DeKalb Times

At a press conference held at the State Capitol, House Republican Conference Chairman Jeff Keicher, along with State Representatives Charlie Meier, Patrick Sheehan, and Brad Fritts, criticized Illinois Democrats for their priorities and called for prompt action to address issues at state agencies. They pointed out controversies under Governor J.B. Pritzker’s leadership, mentioning reports of abuse, neglect, and improper procedures.

Keicher emphasized the role of lawmakers, stating, “Our very job as lawmakers is to answer to our constituents, to be their voice, and to advocate for their needs in the legislature. Out of that also comes our responsibility to protect our state’s most vulnerable citizens. However, that obligation continues to be ignored.”

Since July 2018, the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) has failed to produce detailed reports for over 1,200 child deaths and more than 3,000 serious injuries as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Additionally, the Department of Human Services (DHS) announced an audit by the federal Department of Justice on the State-Operated Developmental Centers, including the Choate, Shapiro, and Mabley Centers, for abuse and neglect concerns.

Keicher noted, “Gov. Pritzker has been in office for six years, and, during that time, he and Democrats in the legislature have increased the annual state budget from $39 billion to $54 billion annually. Yet, we still have core agencies – DCFS, DHS – that are failing our most vulnerable.”

He stressed the need for the Governor and Democrats to end discussions and collaborate on reform efforts to resolve the issues within state agencies.

The legislators also highlighted various proposals from past years aimed at addressing these problems that remain unaddressed by the Governor and the majority party Democrats.

For further details, the complete press conference is available online.